Wansuk re-elected to RS

MPCC president DD Lapang and other party members greet Wansuk Syiem after the declaration of theresult, in the city on Friday. (ST)

SHILLONG: Sitting Rajya Sabha member and Congress candidate Wansuk Syiem has been elected to the Upper House unopposed.

The official announcement was made on Friday, the last day for withdrawal of nominations.

An elated Syiem later told newsmen that her top priority would be issues relating to education and the health sector.

“In my brief tenure of ten months as an MP in my last term, I urged upon the Centre to increase the number of MBBS seats for the State from the Central pool,” Syiem said, adding that she had also sought for setting up a medical college in Tura for the interest of the people of the State.

“I am also very concerned over the increase of crimes against women in the State. As a former member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), I have taken note of the problems faced by the women in the State,” Syiem said, while assuring that she would continue to pursue the cause of women in the State.

When pointed out that MPs in the past had tended to remain isolated with the ground reality as soon as they were elected, Syiem assured that she would continue to remain in touch with the State Government and other agencies to know the problems faced by the people of the State.

Meanwhile, MPCC president DD Lapang expressed satisfaction that Congress candidate had been elected unopposed.

“I am also happy that other parties have backed our candidate by not putting up any candidate of their own,” Lapang said.

Affirming that Syiem, in her very short tenure in the Rajya Sabha, has already proved her efficiency, Lapang said, “I am sure she would do better in her second term.”